Bud Dupree

[RunNGun]

Just curious as to how many of you are in favor of trying to bring Bud back? I know his first few years were mediocre at best, at least from a statistical perspective. However, this year he's really making a name for himself. I wonder how much of his production, or lack of, was due to scheme and how much of it was due to him being in a contract year?

I would like to keep him around. We should keep this young defense together and slowly add pieces to the offense. I do believe Bud will be asking for too much money. Maybe we franchise tag him?

[Born2Steel]

I think we lose Dupree and Hargrave both. Since I’m not paying I am for bringing back either or both. But I think we lose both of them.

[RunNGun]

I think we lose Dupree and Hargrave both. Since I’m not paying I am for bringing back either or both. But I think we lose both of them.

I don't see them losing both. Surely one of them will get the franchise tag? Unless they have a target in free agency?

[86WARD]

I would bring him back but not sure I would do it at the expense of Hargrave being “set free”.

[Mojouw]

I would bring him back but not sure I would do it at the expense of Hargrave being “set free”.

This is almost certainly going to be the new narrative.

Despite Hargrave and Colbert both issuing sworn affidavits that Hargrave left to anchor the Patriots defense and preferred to be paid in Brady's tears than US dollars.

If they sign Dupree and lose Hargrave, we can immediately add that to Dongpree's sins.

[RunNGun]

I'd rather keep Dupree if it came down to it. When Tuitt was healthy, what percentage of the snaps did Hargrave get? Less than 50 I assume. I'd be more comfortable drafting Hargrave's replacement in the 2nd round opposed to Dupree's. Depth is very thin at OLB.

[st33lersguy]

Bud looks like he's dancing the Haynesworth shuffle. I say let Washington or some other team overpay him

[DesertSteel]

OLB is the premium position in this defense. He's not worth first tier dollars, but second tier, I'm good with.

[Born2Steel]

Watt, Dupree, Chickillo, Ola, Elliot?, Skipper? Sutton Smith? No 1st round draft pick. If it comes to sign Dupree OR Hargrave, have to re-sign Dupree unless something changes at the OLB position in a positive way. Dupree has always been an above league average run defender. His pass rush is working this year whether it is due to him getting better or attention to others leaves Bud more chances, it is better.

Heyward, Tuitt, Hargrave, Alualu, Buggs, McCullers, Walton. DL is in much better shape for the future.

Honest opinion is we lose both.

[Fire Goodell]

I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I'm all for signing him. Right now he's playing up to that 5th year option and maybe some. On pace for 12 sacks this year. For years we've been looking for a pass rushing threat on both ends, and although Dupree was slow to develop, he's looking to be there now. When you have 2 bookends, you don't split them up.

I haven't really been impressed with Adeniyi in his limited snaps. Looks good in the preseason but vs starters I often see him get blown off the line.

[Mojouw]

Maybe Dupree is finally playing healthy? He claims to have played every season so far with an injury. One year he apparently couldn't lift one of his arms above his chest or something.

I don't know what it is, but this version of Dupree is worth the draft cost and a pile of money.

I suspect he doesn't get it in Pittsburgh.

Enjoy the 2019 defense. The dismantling begins this off-season. Dupree and Hargrave likely leave for greener pa$ture$. Father Time is going to come for Haden at some point. Hilton and Sutton need contracts as well with little overall cap space.

Why can't this team get it together on both sides of the ball at the same time?! Stupid, Tomlin.

[Hawkman]

Why can't this team get it together on both sides of the ball at the same time?! Stupid, Tomlin.

Money?:

[Mojouw]

Money?:

Absolutely. I should've used the sarcasm font! Another MojoUW joke that didn't land by miles and miles!

It is simply the frustrating part of the salary cap NFL that trying to get all the talent on both sides of the ball to come online at the same time is really really really hard!

[steelreserve]

Absolutely. I should've used the sarcasm font! Another MojoUW joke that didn't land by miles and miles!

It is simply the frustrating part of the salary cap NFL that trying to get all the talent on both sides of the ball to come online at the same time is really really really hard!

Ack, you make a post like this, but then right underneath it, you go into great detail about how we want/need to basically ignore that.

It all does come down to money. And what THAT comes down to is, you have to take chances on unknown draft picks and journeyman free agents, or the cap system will do it for you. All you get to decide is which positions you take the chance on - not whether you do at all.

In an ideal world, we could go, "What the hell, it's not hurting anything to keep this Dupree guy around, let's see if he can do anything." In the harsh world of practicalities, the choice is Dupree or Hargrave. Dupree or Watt. Dupree or Juju. Dupree or Bell (if he'd stayed around). Not "Dupree or unproven draft pick."

The kind of money that's being talked about for Dupree, you can afford to give to your best 3 or 4 players including the quarterback. Even at the lower $10M number, you can fit about 6 of those before you start running into problems (assuming the top 3-4 of those are going to be higher than just $10M flat).

Dupree isn't even the fifth- or sixth-best player on the defense. He's like the ninth-best ahead of only Edmunds and whichever ILB is playing opposite Bush. And even that depends a lot on what you think about Edmunds.

Dupree is EXACTLY the kind of guy you have to let go of amd try somebody new, even if the sole reason is money. I am not too worried about it. He is not even our top player at his specific position.

[steelreserve]

Zero interest in this overrated clod.

Four years of absolutely nothing, then in a contract year makes it a little interesting, no thanks. All he's doing anyway right now is showing flickers. He's not taking over games. You want a guy who does that, look directly across the defense to the other OLB position. Keep THAT guy, pay THAT guy, and whoever is Dupree's replacement will do just fine. No need to kneecap our ability to retain players who are actually important so we can have four more years of this turd.

[HollywoodSteel]

I would love to bring Dupree back. He’s finally hitting his potential and only going to get better. He’s coming into his own as a pass rusher plus he’s very good against the run.

That said, he’s gonna want to eat and some team is gonna feed him

“No more yanky my wanky... the Donger need food!”

[teegre]

The other night, Bince was on Twitter saying that this is the first time that Dupree has been healthy.

[steelreserve]

The other night, Bince was on Twitter saying that this is the first time that Dupree has been healthy.

In five years ... Isn't that a problem in itself?

[Mojouw]

So ignore the name and the draft position. Fast forward to this off-season. You need an OLB.

You can have one of the following:
1. An unproven and untested pass rusher from the MAC in his 3rd season with little to no exposure to starting in the NFL.
2. A second round draft pick OLB.
3. Anthony Chickillo for $6 million dollars or whatever.
4. An undersized OLB from an FBS school.
5. A 27 year old OLB that is coming off a season where he played excellent run defense, was decent defending space, and finally appeared to put his pass rush game together and had 10 sacks.
6. One of the players from this list: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-age...de-linebacker/

As much as I might not like it, #5 is the "best" option for ensuring a floor of acceptable play at my vacant OLB position. Unless I wanted to try and pry Clowney out of Seattle or bet that Shaq Barrett finally "broke out" and it is more "real" than the other same age player that also "broke out" -- what else does a team do?

Maybe swallow hard and bet that you pull a gem in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft? Like catch a prospect that is falling similar to how Lawson did a few years ago and cobble together a rotation on the other side of Watt? I am hesitant to do that, because I saw GB waste years of Matthews' prime by running out failed prospect after failed prospect on the other side.

I don't really want to pay Dupree a ton of money. Especially if it means losing out on Hargrave, Foster, Finney, and any potential improvements at other positions from the outside. But if I consider that pass rush from the OLBs is the entire point of this defense...it is hard to envision it getting better with the other options I can come up with.

I dunno. Maybe Dupree likes playing here enough that he takes like $10 million and calls it a day. Doubt it.

[RunNGun]

So ignore the name and the draft position. Fast forward to this off-season. You need an OLB.

You can have one of the following:
1. An unproven and untested pass rusher from the MAC in his 3rd season with little to no exposure to starting in the NFL.
2. A second round draft pick OLB.
3. Anthony Chickillo for $6 million dollars or whatever.
4. An undersized OLB from an FBS school.
5. A 27 year old OLB that is coming off a season where he played excellent run defense, was decent defending space, and finally appeared to put his pass rush game together and had 10 sacks.
6. One of the players from this list: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-age...de-linebacker/

As much as I might not like it, #5 is the "best" option for ensuring a floor of acceptable play at my vacant OLB position. Unless I wanted to try and pry Clowney out of Seattle or bet that Shaq Barrett finally "broke out" and it is more "real" than the other same age player that also "broke out" -- what else does a team do?

Maybe swallow hard and bet that you pull a gem in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft? Like catch a prospect that is falling similar to how Lawson did a few years ago and cobble together a rotation on the other side of Watt? I am hesitant to do that, because I saw GB waste years of Matthews' prime by running out failed prospect after failed prospect on the other side.

I don't really want to pay Dupree a ton of money. Especially if it means losing out on Hargrave, Foster, Finney, and any potential improvements at other positions from the outside. But if I consider that pass rush from the OLBs is the entire point of this defense...it is hard to envision it getting better with the other options I can come up with.

I dunno. Maybe Dupree likes playing here enough that he takes like $10 million and calls it a day. Doubt it.

Exactly my thinking. It all comes down to Dupree being much more difficult to replace than Hargrave. Is the franchise tag an option for Dupree? Imo, that's the best option.

- - - Updated - - -

A poor to average OLB his entire career so far. Yeah, let's keep that. He makes a couple of plays and the Dupree fan club dubs him the LT of OLBs.

I will take Hargrave over Dupree every time.

No one is making that claim. The dropoff after Dupree would be extreme. This defense, with all it's youth has the potential to be very good for the next few seasons. Losing Dupree takes us a step back.

[Mojouw]

Exactly my thinking. It all comes down to Dupree being much more difficult to replace than Hargrave. Is the franchise tag an option for Dupree? Imo, that's the best option.

- - - Updated - - -



No one is making that claim. The dropoff after Dupree would be extreme. This defense, with all it's youth has the potential to be very good for the next few seasons. Losing Dupree takes us a step back.

I think it is an option. But I believe the Franchise would be $15+ million of a cap hit in 2019. If you look at what the Packers put together for Z. Smith - https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-ba...s-smith-16848/ - a multi-year deal allows you to play more funny games with when cash hits your cap sheet.

For instance, Smith only counts $7.25 million on the 2019 cap. Then some big jumps. IF the Steelers could do something like that, maybe the can squeeze Dupree AND Heyward into the small ($20 million or so) cap space they have in 2020 and then push the big dollars into 2021 and beyond where they have $96+ million in cap space.

But this stuff makes my head hurt and I am not always sure I understand it properly. However, it seems there is a way to sign both Heyward and Dupree -- they just have to delay the (big) cash for one cap year...

[86WARD]

So ignore the name and the draft position. Fast forward to this off-season. You need an OLB.

You can have one of the following:
1. An unproven and untested pass rusher from the MAC in his 3rd season with little to no exposure to starting in the NFL.
2. A second round draft pick OLB.
3. Anthony Chickillo for $6 million dollars or whatever.
4. An undersized OLB from an FBS school.
5. A 27 year old OLB that is coming off a season where he played excellent run defense, was decent defending space, and finally appeared to put his pass rush game together and had 10 sacks.
6. One of the players from this list: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-age...de-linebacker/

As much as I might not like it, #5 is the "best" option for ensuring a floor of acceptable play at my vacant OLB position. Unless I wanted to try and pry Clowney out of Seattle or bet that Shaq Barrett finally "broke out" and it is more "real" than the other same age player that also "broke out" -- what else does a team do?

Maybe swallow hard and bet that you pull a gem in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft? Like catch a prospect that is falling similar to how Lawson did a few years ago and cobble together a rotation on the other side of Watt? I am hesitant to do that, because I saw GB waste years of Matthews' prime by running out failed prospect after failed prospect on the other side.

I don't really want to pay Dupree a ton of money. Especially if it means losing out on Hargrave, Foster, Finney, and any potential improvements at other positions from the outside. But if I consider that pass rush from the OLBs is the entire point of this defense...it is hard to envision it getting better with the other options I can come up with.

I dunno. Maybe Dupree likes playing here enough that he takes like $10 million and calls it a day. Doubt it.

Even without clicking on the player list, I’m taking selection 5 or 6. 1-4 is a waste of time for me...

I take 5 IF it doesn’t keep me from signing other players that I may want to keep or sign as a free agent. In other words, I’m not overpaying based on what I have seen via his whole portfolio.

[teegre]

In five years ... Isn't that a problem in itself?

Oh, absolutely.

As Bill Parcells once stated: “A player’s most important ability is avail-ability.”


Kendrell Bell was a great pick... until his health went south. JJ Watt is a HOF player... who’s had three of his seasons end with him on the IR. Heck, coming out of college, Senquez Golson was the best slot corner in that draft class... but, injuries kept him from ever playing.

SUMMATION:
One has to take Bud’s health into consideration. Is he over the hump? Are his best years ahead of him (like James Farrior)?... or, will he re-aggregate that shoulder??? What we do know: it’s not a matter of Bud not having the talent nor the will.

[Born2Steel]

Oh, absolutely.

As Bill Parcells once stated: “A player’s most important ability is avail-ability.”


Kendrell Bell was a great pick... until his health went south. JJ Watt is a HOF player... who’s had three of his seasons end with him on the IR. Heck, coming out of college, Senquez Golson was the best slot corner in that draft class... but, injuries kept him from ever playing.

SUMMATION:
One has to take Bud’s health into consideration. Is he over the hump? Are his best years ahead of him (like James Farrior)?... or, will he re-aggregate that shoulder??? What we do know: it’s not a matter of Bud not having the talent nor the will.

Another Parcell’s “rule” is drafting is all about the QB. Draft your QB, the guys to protect the QB, and the guys that sack the QB. Bud already plays good run defense. If he becomes a pass rush force opposite Watt why not re-sign both guys this offseason?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Another Parcell’s “rule” is drafting is all about the QB. Draft your QB, the guys to protect the QB, and the guys that sack the QB. Bud already plays good run defense. If he becomes a pass rush force opposite Watt why not re-sign both guys this offseason?

I don't know how firm Parcells was with that "rule". He drafted OT Jake Long #1 in the draft and passed on Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Sure they had 32 year old Chad Pennington on the roster but that 2008 draft was definitely not all about the QB for Parcells.

[teegre]

Another Parcell’s “rule” is drafting is all about the QB. Draft your QB, the guys to protect the QB, and the guys that sack the QB. Bud already plays good run defense. If he becomes a pass rush force opposite Watt why not re-sign both guys this offseason?

Indeed

Get the QB
Protect the QB
Pass-rush the QB

[Squeegee Thompson]

Oh, absolutely.

As Bill Parcells once stated: “A player’s most important ability is avail-ability.”


Kendrell Bell was a great pick... until his health went south. JJ Watt is a HOF player... who’s had three of his seasons end with him on the IR. Heck, coming out of college, Senquez Golson was the best slot corner in that draft class... but, injuries kept him from ever playing.

SUMMATION:
One has to take Bud’s health into consideration. Is he over the hump? Are his best years ahead of him (like James Farrior)?... or, will he re-aggregate that shoulder??? What we do know: it’s not a matter of Bud not having the talent nor the will.

Did ya really have to mention Sanquez Golson? And I was about to eat my lunch ...

[Fire Goodell]

Did ya really have to mention Sanquez Golson? And I was about to eat my lunch ...

vomit inducing pick by the doghumper kevin colbert

[SteelMember]

The other night, Bince was on Twitter saying that this is the first time that Dupree has been healthy.

Dong Tweet

[tube517]

AFC Defensive Dong Player of the Week